Category Archives: EDC (everyday carry)

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As a quick little interlude here, I wanted to do a short list of stuff I carry/use in the winter as part of my daily-carry systems that are omitted from the rest of this list, which is essentially a summer list since I live in an area of the world where it doesn’t get cold very often (people in Alaska would probably say it never gets cold here). But, with it being winter (barely) now, they’re on my mind.

Overcoat (London Fog) (Pretty generic beige color. Keeps me warm with the liner, and keeps the snow/rain off of me with or without it.)

Fleece(y) Headband(s) (I don’t know the brand of these but they come from Wal-Mart {probably} and my ears love them.)

Driving Gloves (A nice pair of warm leather gloves that used to belong to my father and whose only identifying markings say “made in Hong Kong”.)

Other (Touchscreen) Gloves (Champion) (Basically, Target brand gloves that aren’t as warm but are much more useful if I want to use my fingers, grip, or manipulate a touch screen {phone probably}.)

Silk Handkerchief (An essential item for wearing layers. I wear it over my neck under my shirt to prevent 4 layers of clothing from chafing it into oblivion.)

And that’s basically it. I don’t go overboard for winter since there isn’t much of it here (where I live), but I just thought I should include a little bit about how I prepare for it since it does affect what I can carry.

While my regular EDC works well for standard “civilian” clothes (though not quite standard, as I’m rarely in anything “less” than a button down shirt and slacks) I do wears suits as often as I possibly can (especially now in the winter), and it doesn’t work nearly as well for them. I can’t wear anything on the belt (for the most part) without having it look ridiculous, and my pants pockets would bulge since I carry mostly in the front. So I have to shift where I carry things and adjust a few usage scenarios (I probably won’t be using a full-sized multi-tool when in a suit). Fortunately, suits have a ton of pockets for me to spread my gear out in while looking nice and “fashionable”. Here’s the stuff I carry.

Man I wish I had a better photo of me… But you can see how little the pockets bulge in this one.

Inside Jacket Pocket 1

Pocket Notebook (Field Notes Expedition) (It always impresses people when you pull a notebook out of your jacket pocket)

And that’s the suit carry. Not quite as much stuff, and a bit more limited in use than the standard EDC, but it all fits very slimly into the pockets and keeps me looking nice. Hopefully I won’t be doing too much down and dirty work in a suit anyway. I’ve also excluded a few of the regular trappings that may go along with a suit like: shoes, ties, tie bars, cufflinks, hats, etc. because those things change more frequently (by the day usually) than the gear I carry does. This has been a very good working system for me for about a year, but I’m always looking for a way to slim it down, and that gets harder ever time.

Next I’ll be returning to more of a “regular” “EDC’ set, my bag, which has probably seen the most change since my last update. Hopefully you’ll join me there.

(Amazon Links provided may not be the cheapest one’s around. If no Amazon link is available another one will be provided so long as I think the item is of enough importance)

* Items that are carried on a conditional basis or can be one of a few like items

** Items that will need to be specially treated when going into restricted areas (read: airports) (i.e. liquids and pointy things)

EDC stands for Every-Day Carry (or Electric Daisy Carnival if you’re into dance music). And, the name fortunately being self-explanatory, it is the general items one carries with them every day. Most people have an EDC but don’t call it that because it’s generally unnecessary. But if you’re a bit nuts about being prepared and organized like me, it’s a nice, easy way to condense the idea of what things you need with you all the time (or various levels of such) and separate it from all of the other things that are in life either for fun or more specific tasks.

This is my 3rd (maybe 4th) year of really being in to EDC, and my 3rd (maybe 4th) year of detailing a list of what I carry (hopefully with videos as well) online in the hopes of being helpful and entertaining. Last year I had a little bit of a debate with myself over what EDC really meant, and if I go by the strict definition, as I am one to do, this set of posts as well as the last one go beyond my (or a) true EDC. Still, I believe that the different layers of organization and carry items are relevant both in the creation of the lower and higher levels and in the sense that they can, I believe, help and entertain as much as and true EDC list would.

I will be breaking this down into chunks, to make them easier (for you) to digest and reference, while ignoring the bits that don’t pertain to you. Some smaller sets of items (like my pocket EDC) will be contained all in one post while larger sets of items (like my backpack) may be broken up into several relevant parts (like the bag of tools in my backpack being its own separate post from the other “sub-bags” in the backpack). Hopefully once I’ve finished and gone through the entire list I can go back and collect it all into one post for anyone who wants to see it all together. I’ll talk a little bit about how I use each layer and what capabilities it provides me with, and follow that up with a list of the items and my various comments about their usefulness, hardiness, aesthetics, or just something interesting about them. Those of you who have read my previous entries in this series will find some familiar items but there are many new ones and things that have been tweaked. One of my favorite things about preparedness kits and EDC is how dynamic it is, and how it can, and should, change regularly to continue to be effective. Coming up with a “perfect” kit and leaving it stagnate doesn’t work out well in the being prepared world. There is no “perfect” kit, and it only gets better the more you experiment.

* Items that are carried on a conditional basis or can be one of a few like items

** Items that will need to be specially treated when going into restricted areas (read: airports) (i.e. liquids and pointy things)

My Main EDC is stuff that I’m almost guaranteed to have on me when leaving the house. If I’m going out for anything I’ll certainly have my wallet, phone, and watch, but more often than not I’ve got all of the items on this list, so naturally, they’re some of the most useful and most portable items I have in my daily carry systems.

(Amazon Links provided may not be the cheapest one’s around. If no Amazon link is available another one will be provided so long as I think the item is of enough importance)

EDC

Wallet (Austin Leather Tri-Fold Wallet) (I’m not sure the company even exists any more) (I’m not a fan of billfolds because they are wider than my pocket is in some cases, and have fewer card slots or ways to expand. I would still have the phone-case wallet if I wasn’t planning on upgrading my phone at some point and not wanting to buy two of them. This gives me more options anyway.)

Mini Lock Pick Set (Without Case. In Ziploc bag) (These guys aren’t great but they are inexpensive and will get the job done if I or a friend gets locked out. They’re certainly better than paperclips)

Tension Wrench (Not what I would choose to use in any case)

Hook (Medium to Large)

Half Diamond

City Rake (L Rake)

S Rake

Bobby Pins x2 (Plenty of uses. If nothing else, they’ll hold hair in place, but now I have quite a few of them hanging around doing nothing)

Safety Pins x2

Straight Pins x2

Paper Clips x2 (Super tools)

Band Aids x2 (For when I cut myself every time I buy a new sharp thing)

11 in 1 Credit Card Multi-tool (basically a bottle opener) ** (This thing is super dangerous to hold, and mostly useless. I covered up the sharp bits and it makes a good $1 bottle opener for the wallet)

Iain Sinclair Cardsharp 2 ** (It’s a working blade at this size, and it means I can have a functional knife on me essentially all the time. Only for when I have to use it though as I’d rather use anything else)

Timex Band (The original band wasn’t as good, plain metal ones work better)

Change Bag (Small Leather Marble Bag) (I get a lot of compliments on this, separately from the people who are annoyed I have to get my change out of it)

Change

Keys (Leather Holder) (I ordered a custom key holder from Bulgaria over Etsy. The original clip was pretty cheap and has already broken, but the leather is still beautiful, and the rest of the hardware still going)

Belt Pouch (Maxpedition Anemone) (New pouch, quality is incredible, after more than a year it still looks brand new)

Two Maxpedition Tac Ties as Belt Loops (I don’t like these, and they have to be retightened periodically, but there aren’t many other options for belt carry here)

Leatherman (Juice S2)** (Still one of the best Multi-Tools out there as everyone in the world will tell you)

Pen (Fisher Space Pen Stowaway) (Works well; the clip is getting a bit wobbly clipping on to such thick fabric. I’d be open to something else but it’s so small and light I hardly even know it’s there)

Flashlight (Coast A5) (One done quit on me, but I like the new color better anyway. I hope the last one was just a fluke because this is the prefect design for me)

Work Phone (LG 328BG) (Got a new one because TracFone was changing their network. Not as good as the last one in my opinion but it’s just there to take calls)

Whistle (This one was my grandmother’s. It’s a bit rusty but I like the look and feel)

Pen (Zebra F-301) (I love these guys and have one wherever I usually need a pen)

Like I said, I hardly go anywhere without this stuff, and as such I’ve tried to make it what I think is the best gear for the job. It’s a collection of my “finest equipment”. There’s probably the most similarity to other people’s EDC here as the things I need are mostly the same as what everyone needs, but there are always those differences, and those become more pronounced the higher up on these lists. My backpack will likely vary considerable from most other peoples’ EDC backpacks. But that’s to look at in the future; hopefully I’ll see you there.

Alright, it’s been half a year and my EDC has changed, probably much more than enough to warrant an update, but creating an itemized list and finding all of these product links takes time, so I only want it done when I feel it’s changed enough.

In the time since I last did an EDC update, I’ve been thinking a bit about what “EDC” is. Obviously, the words mean something by themselves. But on the internet they mean different things to different people. It’s hard to carry around the same things day-to-day for years, especially if you care about what you carry. You always want the best, and that requires you to keep searching and trying new things. But if something is changed often is it EDC? Can you “EDC” something for a couple of days?

Another problem is how to define when something is “EDC” or when it is carried infrequently enough to not qualify. This also changes depending on the scenario. If one is on a vacation their EDC may vary wildly from in the city, but if they only have it for a couple of days is that really every day? Or in my case, is it really EDC when you go most of many days without “carrying” it?

Thinking about these questions, and how I used my previous EDC items and tiers has led me to the following system. It still has tiers, but only 3 this time for simplicity. And the functions of each system has now changed.

Tier 1, which will be covered in this article, is my Person, Pockets, and Belt. This stuff is on me most of the time, and always when I leave my living area (i.e. out the door for more than to check the mail). When I’m in my home it is always at hand as well. If you catch me, I’m 99.9% likely to have these tools at hand. This could be considered my real “EDC”.

Tier 2, which will be covered in the next part, is my backpack. It is also close-by when I’m inside, and with me 9 times out of 10 when I leave the house. Occasionally, when I’m just going to the store, or in a car packed with people, it will be left behind, but this is rare. This is bordering on the edge of EDC. It isn’t always on me, but I feel it is around enough that I can consider it in that category.

Tier 3 is my travel and “other” section. There are many tools I use every day, or specifically want when I’m traveling, that I don’t necessarily always carry with me, but in some situations they will be integrated. For instance I use my notebook every day for at least one drawing (That’s a personal challenge of mine) and while I don’t always carry it with me, I can easily do so if I need to, and I use it more than some of my “real EDC” gear. So it gets put in this category with several other items used in similar ways.

With that in mind let’s take a look at the first tier (Specifications and Comments on gear in parentheses):

POCKETS/PERSON

Wallet (Book Book Phone Case) (A bit beat up at the moment, I need to upgrade my phone and this case at some point.)

The backpack has moved up from my previous EDC iteration, from tier 4 to tier 2. It’s still between 10-15 pounds, which is not too heavy, but can get uncomfortable at times. I’ve condensed the items contained within it to eliminate redundancy, and added a few more that are specific to the urban environment that I live in. There isn’t as much room to expand since I got a new, smaller backpack, but I’ve found the need to put things I haven’t planned on carrying in my pack to be minimal, and I have a shopping bag if the need arises. So without further ado, let’s take a look at what I carry in my backpack.

BACKPACK (Swiss Gear CityPack)

Outside

Pepper Spray (Sabre Red, Held in a Leatherman case by Velcro) (It’s attached to the strap for quick access in an emergency.)

Paracord Zipper Pull (In a helix shape, it really serves no function, I guess it could be an emergency paracord supply, but there’s hardly any there.)

Medicine Bottles (Fortunately I don’t have many prescriptions, so I can carry supplies of what I need with me at all times.)

Pain Meds

Sleep Meds

Med Bag

Migraine Meds

Pill Container (Altoids tin wrapped with Electrical Tape) (Some spare over-the-counter medicines that most people can use are helpful. Not that I’d just be giving them out: I use them mainly for myself, but still…)

Diphenhydramine

Acetaminophen

Tryptophan

Meclizine

2 Packets of single-use toothpaste (Freshmint) (These things are surprisingly cheap and easily have enough gel to last 3 or 4 brushes!)

Tweezers (Uncle Bill’s Sliver Grippers) (An EDC standby for many people, I don’t have to explain how well they work, but I’ve never really had to use them.)

Folding Nail Clippers (Bluecell) (The construction might not be as sturdy as it is in some other brands, but it’s good, and I don’t see them breaking any time soon.)

Mini Kleenex package

Change Purse (Don’t want that change banging around!)

Change

Onn Emergency Charging Kit (Modified) (All of this stuff can be summed up pretty simply as phone protection. I have a few extra items in here for other devices, if anyone I’m with has problems. Keeping electronics charged in this day and age is very important, though I’ve never “had” to use the kit. An additional piece of the kit is stored in the pack organizer pocket.)

Dry Bag (For restoring Electronic Devices that got wet.)

Emergency USB charger (2AA)

USB to Wall Adapter

USB to Car Adapter

Mini USB to USB

iPod to USB

iPhone to USB

Samsung Phone Charger

Samsung Phone Adapter for Car Charger

Glasses Case (Self-explanatory)

Glasses

Cleaning Cloth

Paracord (40ft Bright Orange) (I don’t know how to tie many knots now, but I’m learning, and having it around is better than not. Though I don’t expect to be in any “survival” situations where it would be necessary, it’s a backup to the cheap twine that is in the organizer pocket.)

First Aid Kit (CVS All-purpose Kit with Modifications) (This is a particularly stuffed kit that I’m contemplating taking some of the bandages out of. It’s made to not need restocking for some time, it would appear, but I don’t need as many bandages as it comes with. I have rearranged this bag into Ziploc bags instead of the 5-pocket container it came with to slim it down a bit. I also feel the kit is pretty self explanatory, so I won’t go into too much detail except about the items I added.)

Quick Access

2 Tampons (For impromptu bandages, nosebleeds, and potentially deep puncture wounds. I wouldn’t recommend it for that last purpose and don’t go taking medical advice from an idiot on the internet, but I’d say it’s better than dying if it does indeed inhibit death.)

Israeli Bandage (I’m not comfortable using a tourniquet, and while this is much larger and not as good at stopping blood, I feel much more able to use one of these.)

Snake Bite Kit (Coghlans) (These have been proven many times to not be effective. But the main killer in snake bites is not remaining calm and allowing the venom to spread more easily. This kit acts as a placebo to keep calm, for both me and the people I’m with. It also has a few other useful items like a scalpel and disinfectant.)

2 Large Suction Cups

Small Suction Cup

Lymph Constrictor

Snake Bite Instructions

Glass Iodine Vial

Scalpel Blade

CPR Breathing Barrier (I have an idea of how CPR works, but I am by no mean qualified to administer it. If someone else has to {or the situation is bad enough that I have to} this is a nice thing to have at hand quickly to protect the administerer.)

Triangular Bandage

Bandanna

Red Cross First Aid Guide

Tools Bag

Vinyl Gloves

Plastic Tweezers

Bent Scissors

Flat Thermometer

Safety Pins

Paper Tape

Tongue Depressors

Cotton Swabs

“Pre-Treat” Bag

Instant Cold Pack

Chloride Wipes

Electrolyte Tablets

Alcohol Wipes

Ibuprofen

Aspirin

Acetaminophen

Pill Fob

More Acetaminophen

Migraine Medication

“Treatment/Bandage” Bag

Gauze Bandages (2 Sizes)

Gauze Pads (2×2 to 5×9)

Finger Tip Bandages

Knuckle Bandages

Circle Bandages

Spot Bandages

Butterfly Closures

Elbow Bandage

Knee Bandage

Eye Pads

Standard Size bandages (Plastic and Woven)

Mini Size Bandages (Plastic)

“Post/In Addition to Bandages” Bag

Neosporin Tube

Die cut Moleskin

Space Blanket

Insect Bite Relief wipes (Maybe these two {this and the one after)should go in the Pre-Treat Bag?)

After Burn Gel

Single-Use Triple Antibiotic ointment

Back Pocket

Poncho

Guest parking pass

Gloves (In Ziplock Bag, Wells Lamont Suede Cowhide 1012) (I’ve forgotten gloves so many times when I needed them, and just bought another pair. Now I have so many pairs I find them popping up everywhere. I guess I reached my saturation point.)

Organization Pocket

Cash Wallet (Flex By Filofax) (This can be used in so many different ways, and I love the versatility and high-quality construction)

Bicycle Cards (Games are important for eliminating boredom when something is delayed, or just when you’re around people who like to play games. Everyone knows card games, and Love Letter is simple to teach and only has 16 cards.)

And now it’s time for the final part of my EDC. This tier might be straying from the “EDC” mentality, and instead of everyday carry, it might be more everyday use, like EDU, but that’s already taken. I use my computer, notebooks, fountain pens, and many other things every day, and they can integrate into my EDC when I need to carry them, for travel or work purposes. I feel that while they are outside of the normal EDC realm, I should still include them. The various items will be shown here mostly without comment, but the uses of each section will be talked about. Let’s take a look at what I have here.

OTHER/TRAVEL

Emergency Satchel (Unknown source Map Bag) (This satchel is close by but not right next to me in most places. It’s more like an emergency car bag. It isn’t a survival kit. It’s meant to get me through one emergency situation and one only, not many days and not after the apocalypse. But if my regular EDC stuff is lost or isn’t handy, I strive to keep this one near as a backup.)

Fountain Pens (I love fountain pens and use them every day. I believe they are the perfect writing experience, but not the most practical, since my regular EDC doesn’t include them. But when I have a bit more luxury room I always try to fit one or a few in.)

Notebooks (I always need to jot things down, and replacement books for my standard pocket notebook are common. I also try to come up with a cartoon idea and a drawing every day, making my notebooks very important to me.)

Flex By Filofax and Bull & Stash are current EDC (B&S for testing purposes)

Toiletries bag (Not in extreme detail) (This bag I have arranged so that I use it every day, and when I need to go on a trip I can simply zip it up and have all of the things I normally use around my sink right there with me.)

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Tissues

Nail Clippers

Scissors

Comb

Floss

Trimmer

Deodorant

Mouthwash

Shampoo

Medicines

Petroleum Jelly

Bulb Syringe

Stain Remover

Computer Bag (I don’t use this bag every day, but the items in it are in almost constant use, and if I need to go somewhere you can be certain I’ll pick it up.)

And that’s it for my summer 2015 EDC. I’ve slimmed the main parts down some and added a few more. I think that EDC is ever-evolving for most people, and for me it’s no different. Sometimes it changes day to day, and I want to try and get what is best for me specifically. I hope I’ve given you a few ideas, or showed you some things you may have forgotten about. And even if I didn’t, I hope you enjoyed reading it. I’m almost positive I’ll be doing it again in another 6 months.

And now it’s time for the final part of my EDC. This tier might be straying from the “EDC” mentality, and instead of everyday carry, it might be more everyday use, like EDU, but that’s already taken. I use my computer, notebooks, fountain pens, and many other things every day, and they can integrate into my EDC when I need to carry them, for travel or work purposes. I feel that while they are outside of the normal EDC realm, I should still include them. The various items will be shown here mostly without comment, but the uses of each section will be talked about. Let’s take a look at what I have here.

OTHER/TRAVEL

Emergency Satchel (Unknown source Map Bag) (This satchel is close by but not right next to me in most places. It’s more like an emergency car bag. It isn’t a survival kit. It’s meant to get me through one emergency situation and one only, not many days and not after the apocalypse. But if my regular EDC stuff is lost or isn’t handy, I strive to keep this one near as a backup.)

Fountain Pens (I love fountain pens and use them every day. I believe they are the perfect writing experience, but not the most practical, since my regular EDC doesn’t include them. But when I have a bit more luxury room I always try to fit one or a few in.)

Notebooks (I always need to jot things down, and replacement books for my standard pocket notebook are common. I also try to come up with a cartoon idea and a drawing every day, making my notebooks very important to me.)

Flex By Filofax and Bull & Stash are current EDC (B&S for testing purposes)

Toiletries bag (Not in extreme detail) (This bag I have arranged so that I use it every day, and when I need to go on a trip I can simply zip it up and have all of the things I normally use around my sink right there with me.)

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Tissues

Nail Clippers

Scissors

Comb

Floss

Trimmer

Deodorant

Mouthwash

Shampoo

Medicines

Petroleum Jelly

Bulb Syringe

Stain Remover

Computer Bag (I don’t use this bag every day, but the items in it are in almost constant use, and if I need to go somewhere you can be certain I’ll pick it up.)

And that’s it for my summer 2015 EDC. I’ve slimmed the main parts down some and added a few more. I think that EDC is ever-evolving for most people, and for me it’s no different. Sometimes it changes day to day, and I want to try and get what is best for me specifically. I hope I’ve given you a few ideas, or showed you some things you may have forgotten about. And even if I didn’t, I hope you enjoyed reading it. I’m almost positive I’ll be doing it again in another 6 months.

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